I've noted 2 flying recently... So yes!

Sounds to me as though we're now salami-slicing the salami slices.
Good luck with selling that to Force Command.

Just because its flying doesn't mean its mission capable.

Prosciutto-slicing? Implies high quality and a reassuring degree of expense...

Fuselage Sections for First RAF E-7 Wedgetail Aircraft Arrive at Conversion Site in Birmingham

News of progess in the UK acquiring 'the world’s most effective AEW&C aircraft'.

Boeing UK issued a press statement on 2 November Boeing: Boeing UK - News Release

"News of progess in the UK acquiring 'the world’s most effective AEW&C aircraft'.

You should use the words "World Beating"

Ok, so this thing is being assembled here, which is good news for UK industry.

So does this mean that we're putting our own avionics in it from scratch? Our very own AESA radar? Any open source information on this?

I did hear a rumour that this jet is going to be very similar in capability to the E-2D?

MESA is an N-G product, manufactured in Baltimore, MD.

Fair enough.

Will it have our own kit put into it?

Been told it will be pretty exact copy of the australian versions, this allows british crews to train on/with australian aircraft.

Swapping out electronics on such an aircraft would hugely increase the costs. Just because new kit does the same task doesn't mean it works the same way, or even has the same inputs/outputs requirements.
A huge portion of the cost of these sorts of aircraft is in the integration of the electronics, and making sure not only due they play together but they don't interfere with each other. HIRF is a major problem - not so much external threats, but the frequencies coming from the other onboard equipment.
The beauty of using the same electronics as the Australian version is that the difficult integration stuff has already been done.

I get the idea from a few people I know who are dealing with the RAAF wedgetails that the RAF dropped a list of changes on boeing and they they weren't all that happy and when the order size decreased they went nope take them as is

It is also my understanding that the commonality with the RAAF Wedgetails is extremely high - wise heads want(ed) to ensure the UK was on the same upgrade pathway as the RAAF so the E-3 divergence fiasco isn't repeated.

However, the UK Defensive Aids System will be delivered by Leornado, with Thales sub-contracting for its Elix-IR Threat Warning System. The Leonardo system is, I understand, a newer version of the Electronic Warfare Suite Controller already fitted to the RAAF's Wedgetails. So I would think/hope that at some point that both AFs will be using the same version.


Asturias - Boeings words not mine hence the quote marks. I am in no position to make such an assessment. :)

Appreciate the info chaps, thanks.

Very interesting!

I know it was mooted that the order would be reduced to three, but has anyone seen any actual confirmation of that?

More importantly what are we going to call ours.... ?

Wedgetail being a native bird of Australia and all that

Call it 'Cuckoo' as our government must be cuckoo for what it has let happen to the UK defence industry.

Something really, really lame, of course. Tweet some really lame suggestions to AOC 1 Gp on Twitter, and he can pick the lamest.

After all, 'Rivet Joint' is a pretty cool name but the RAF managed to make it seem lame by naming ours 'Airseeker.' :sad:

Dodo would get my vote, if E-3D is anything to go by

E-7 Chav....

I initially thought Bruce...

But then it was originally Australian, it sticks its nose into other peoples' business and tells everyone about it so either the Pilger AEW Mk 1 or the Greer AEW Mk 1,

Wedgetail was selected as the name by CAS (ACM Hillier) some time ago.

Yeah! It's a real shocker that it's only the second largest in the world and last year was equal exporter globally!

I have lost track of this a bit. Was it ever confirmed that the order is only for 3? And is that the final number or more to come (Like F35B/A ???)

I don't think it is official (yet), I have seen a story that Boeing is trying to convince HMG they can afford four. Recent press releases from Boeing UK and STS don't include a fleet number unlike some earlier ones. Speculation suggests no maintenance contract was put in place and the likely costs of it plus training are the issue. A side issue is that the E-3 OSD is 12 months before E-7 Entry into Service.

MoD seems to have been avoiding answering the question.

Written Question on 22 SEP 2020 reply 28 SEP 2020
[QUOTE]Kevan Jones MP (Labour) (ex Defence Minister and Shadow Defence Minister), Member of the Defence & Intelligence and Security Committees

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what capability gap would be created for the Royal Air Force in the event that the order for five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft is reduced to three?

Jeremy Quin MP, Minister of State (MoD)
Reply
None. The E-7 Wedgetail is a step change in capability and reliability and meets the urgent need for an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability as a critical enabler to UK military capability.

The transition from Sentry to E-7 Wedgetail will not result in any reduction in current capability.[/QUOTE]

:ugh: If the existing capability is as f**ked as some have said then dragging Shacks and Gannets out of museums wouldn't represent a reduction in capability. Yes, I'm being facetious but 3 clapped out E-3s replaced by 3 new E-7s obviously wouldn't be a reduction in a capability which is severely degraded.

Thanks. “The current capability” sounds like a very dubious yardstick.

As I read the press release, the empty airframes will be flown here, then STS will remove S 46 in the rear fuselage, fit the new section 46 (with the radar mount) then re-assemble the fuselage and install the mission systems.

So 'conversion' rather than assembly

I don't think the 'used' airframes for the UK have been publically identified yet, not whther they will be -700 airframes (As per RAAF) or -800 (as rumoured). Wouldn't be like us to screw things up by having a different airframe :-)

Just confirmed by local MP that E7 to be based at Lossie alongside P8. Makes sense I suppose but Lossie is going to be one hell of a base. Is this all part of a negotiating ploy when Nicola gets her way?

It's been on the BBC news for about 45 minutes (as I type)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...tland-55351077

Must say, didn't see that one coming although it makes some sense.

Whither Waddo?

Runway's too short for the RJ, Shadow doesn't need 9,000', Sentinel's off, Reaper et al probably won't fly from there. So just the Arrows...

Indeed, the reds will be happy but I fail to see how the base will be maximised now the wedgetails are not coming. With Sentinels being stood down, this will leave 3 RJ’s and a few Shadows, all very strange!

And here’s the official RAF press release, like everyone else no saw that coming ...but makes sense with co locating with P-8 sharing resources.

https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles...ased-in-moray/

Not forgetting Protector!
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...8nv7zDBfJPIjAu

Waddington will have to have a few more detached squadrons going in to make full use of the base!!

Lossie's going to be busy then. Kinloss would give them some room for manoeuvre though ie circuit bashing. I wonder if any cabs would be based at ISK?

That decision will p1ss a few people off.

Not really, due to runway proximity, a certain amount of deconfliction was always required.

Don't know what the sim situation is going to be but a lot of circuit bashing is going synthetic anyway these days. It should be possible to have one front-end sim for both types, just flick a switch to go from P-8 to E-7. Depends on how common the flight deck is obviously.

Idle Friday Speculation
 

Although it seems to make sense from the point of view of airframe commonality and being slightly more up threat, is this further signalling a reduction in the E-7 order?

With 8 going back to Lossie and 5 for the chop, if 51 go elsewhere as speculated, does it make operational sense to consolidate 14 and 54 at Lossie so the 'Locally Piloted' ISTAR force isn't split over three stations? Waddo then becomes the centre for RPAS and when 216 becomes fully operational swarm technology with RAFAT for company.:} (My naughty thought was they are a piloted swarm)

Does anyone know if XIII or 39 will disband once 31 becomes fully operational on Protector or will it be in addition to the existing squadrons?

Especially paying higher taxes. OK, they get it back but it's still extra buggeration.